Giveaways Can Become Treasured Memorabilia

By Linda Hansen Who doesn't have a collection of coffee mugs -- you know, the free one from the mechanic who fixed your car; the one your uncle received as a gift for volunteering; maybe one or two you picked up from vendors at college or even at a trade show. Many businesses create campaigns with free give-aways without really thinking too much about the long-term uses of their products. But customized coffee mugs, pens and other items can linger for years. Some may even end up on eBay, like "The Brown Pen" by UPS which was recently up for auction for $4.95, or an antique Haines Food Service stein selling for $8.50. Even eBay has memorabilia on its site: the "First feedback star" mousepad was recently up for bid for $6.50. Customers often save things that are useful for all kinds of reasons. I've kept the coffee mugs and fleece jacket from one of my first internships and actually wish that I had some kind of coffee mug or something from my very first out-of-town, on-my-own internship as well! I've even kept a few things that I don't really use, because you never know when you'll need a "white elephant" gift to exchange. Taking the long view can lead to some fun ideas for a promotional campaign. Coffee mugs, stadium cups and other drinkware are proven to be useful and are likely to be kept for years. An umbrella personalized with a quirky logo can send your message every time it rains. Stress balls and other toys will be used around the office until they wear out. People will carry your message all over the place for years if you put it on the right kind of duffel bag or briefcase. Once you have an idea in mind, take a moment to think about the impression you would like to create well after your campaign ends. You may put your business name on a pen, for instance; the question is, do you want it to be a high-quality pen that people will use until the ink runs out? Some promotional items may seem to cost a lot up-front, but are well worth it if they are still used next year or even next decade. When a business is trying to generate publicity, it can be hard to think beyond the current campaign and the daily issues that bog any business owner down. However, taking the time to plan a campaign carefully -- whether it's a national campaign or drumming up business in your local area -- can lead to results years down the line. Linda Hansen has over six years of journalism experience and currently markets promotional products at Absorbent, Ink. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Hansen http://EzineArticles.com/?Giveaways-Can-Become-Treasured-Memorabilia&id=427513 carisoprodol online soma
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Marketing Mantras Make Money

By John Bradley Jackson Repeat. Marketing Mantras Make Money. Repeat. Marketing Mantras Make Money. Again. A mantra is a religious prayer or mystical phrase or poem that instills concentration when repeated and is used for meditation and prayer. The key is to focus on the mantra and to block out everything else. A marketing mantra is three to five words that describes how your business or offering is different. It must be easy to say and remember while being easily understood. If it is in writing, it should leap off the page with authenticity and integrity. It can be used internally or externally. It should say how you are different instead of how you are the same. Your marketing mantra should be positive. Study after study shows that positive messages sell better than negative messages and so it is with mantras. Many marketing messages are negative. Who can forget American Express: Dont Leave Home without it? I always feared what might happen if chose to leave without it, so I switched to MasterCard. Mantras help focus your employees and your customers on what makes your offering different. This focus is critical since customers buy because of your differences, not because you are like the competition or have similar benefits. An example of a marketing mantra is Diamonds Are Forever by DeBeers Corporation. It accentuates the point that unlike other gifts, diamonds will outlast them all and they will never go out of style. Another example of a mantra is Burger Kings Have it Your Way; this mantra told us that fast food could be customized at Burger King, unlike the food at McDonalds. During its time, this was a very powerful message about how Burger King was different from Mickey Ds. You can write a mantra by first writing down a list of your distinctive competencies, which are the unique benefits of your offering that your customers value. Try to boil it down to a few words while experimenting with the order of the words. Reduce it to three to five unique words that say how your firm is different. Alliteration can help and shorter is better. Next, test it with friends, employees, and customers. See if they react positively and if they agree that it says how your offering is different. Change it if necessary. And try it again. When you get the message right, blanket the earth with your mantra. For this is the most important message you will ever tell your customers and prospects. John Bradley Jackson brings street-savvy sales and marketing experience from Silicon Valley and Wall Street. His resume also includes entrepreneur, angel investor, corporate trainer, philanthropist, and consultant. His book is called First, Best, or Different: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know About Niche Marketing. Check out his website at: http://www.firstbestordifferent.com or his blog at http://www.firstbestordifferent.com/blog Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Bradley_Jackson http://EzineArticles.com/?Marketing-Mantras-Make-Money&id=496881 buy soma online no prescription
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